Preparation and characterization of biopolymer-based adsorbents and their application for methylene blue removal from wastewater

In the present study, four biopolymer-based materials consisting of native corn starch (CS), phosphate corn starch (PS), starch nanocrystals (SNCs), and phosphate corn starch nanocrystals (PSNCs) were synthesized and used for methylene blue (MB) removal as a function of various parameters, including initial MB concentration (C0, 10–500 mg L(−1)), adsorbent dosage (Cs, 0.02–0.15 g), contact time (t, 5–15 min), solution pH (2–11), and temperature (25–45 °C). The removal percentage of MB increased dramatically upon increasing the biopolymer dosage, temperature, and pH; while it decreased upon increasing the initial MB concentration. The adsorption behavior of biopolymer-based materials towards MB was found to be accurately described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models. According to the Langmuir model, the maximum adsorption capacities of the adsorbents were ordered as follows: PSNCs (88.53 mg g(−1)) > SNCs (79.55 mg g(−1)) > PS (73.17 mg g(−1)) > CS (63.02 mg g(−1)). PSNCs was able to remove 96.8% and 76.5% of 20 mg L(−1) MB in greywater and petrochemical wastewater, respectively, at an optimum pH of 9 and retained 86.42% of its usability even after five adsorption–desorption cycles. The analysis of the surface charge of the adsorbents before and after MB adsorption, combined with the FTIR spectrum of MB-saturated biopolymer-based materials, provided evidence that electrostatic interactions was the primary mechanism involved in the adsorption of MB. Meanwhile, hydrogen bonding and π–π interactions were found to have a minor contribution to the adsorption process. Based on the results, it can be inferred that PSNCs has promising potential as an adsorbent for the treatment of MB-containing wastewater, owing to its exceptional properties, which include high adsorption capacity, low cost, and applicability for multiple reuses.